The Purpose of Tsai's "Taiwan Consensus" is to Repudiate the Republic of China

The Purpose of Tsai's "Taiwan Consensus" is to Repudiate the Republic of China
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
September 23, 2011

Summary: Tsai Ing-wen recently began peddling her "Taiwan consensus." Her motive? To deny that the Republic of China and the Republic of China Constitution already constitute a Taiwan consensus. Her motive is to repudiate the Republic of China, and demean the Constitution of the Republic of China. Tsai Ing-wen refuses to swear allegiance to the Republic of China, and to defend the Republic of China Constitution before the election. So what is she doing? Is she waiting until after she is elected before deciding whether to swear allegiance to the nation and its constitution?

Full Text below:

Tsai Ing-wen recently began peddling her "Taiwan consensus." Her motive? To deny that the Republic of China and the Republic of China Constitution already constitute a Taiwan consensus. Her motive is to repudiate the Republic of China, and demean the Constitution of the Republic of China.

Taiwan independence refuses to recognize the Republic of China and the Republic of China Constitution. It calls for Taiwan independence and nation-building. It attempts to achieve these ends by means of deceit, by means of "backdoor listing," or the "rectification of names and the authoring of a new constitution." Tsai Ing-wen's latest gimmick is her "Taiwan consensus."

Taiwan independence advocates sneer at the Republic of China and extol Taiwan independence. But the public doubts the feasibility of Taiwan independence. Therefore most of the time Taiwan independence advocates settle for poo-pooing the Republic of China. They seldom argue the feasibility of Taiwan independence. They know they would convince no one. Taiwan independence advocates sneer at the Republic of China. They revel in the fact that few governments recognize it. When the Republic of China participates in international sporting events, it cannot use its official name. It is forced to use the name "Chinese Taipei." Chen Yunlin referred to President Ma as "you," and even "Special Executive." The Republic of China has endured these indignities. The DPP plays these up for what they are worth. It rubs salt in the wound. It is now peddling its "Taiwan consensus." The DPP belittles the Republic of China and the Republic of China Constitution. It hopes its attitude will become the "Taiwan consensus." That is bad enough. But if one looks more closely, Tsai's "Taiwan consensus" is utterly devoid of content.

The Republic of China is covered with wounds. But most people know how to turn grief into strength. The DPP however only knows how to rub salt in the wound. The DPP has adopted a facile political logic. Other countries refuse to recognize the Republic of China, therefore the DPP refuses to recognize the Republic of China. Beijing refuses to explicitly recognize "one China, different interpretations," therefore the DPP refuses to recognize "one China, different interpretations" and the Republic of China Constitution. In short, if other people refuse to recognize the Republic of China, then the DPP must go along with them and refuse to recognize the Republic of China as well. Others demean the Republic of China Constitution, therefore we must go along with them and demean the Republic of China constitution as well.

Consider the controversy over the 1992 consensus, and "one China, different interpretations." Put simply, it declares that "We are the Republic of China!" Also, Beijing has changed its position. It now says that "Although the two sides have a different understanding of the meaning of one China, they can nevertheless seek common ground." This is what it now says about "one China, different interpretations." The DPP should be urging Beijing to further accept "one China, different interpretations." Instead, it shrilly insists that "Beijing does not recognize one China, different interpretations." The DPP seems terrified at the prospect that Beijing might explicitly recognize "one China, different interpretations." As long as Beijing refuses to explicitly recognize "one China, different interpretations," the DPP will have an excuse to repudiate "one China, different interpretations."

Beijing repudiates the Republic of China. Therefore we must repudiate the Republic of China. This is Taiwan independence political logic. But the world has changed. The 1992 consensus and "one China, different interpretations," have influenced cross-Strait thinking. In recent years, Beijing reached the point where it no longer openly disputed the Republic of China government's jurisdiction. It apparently accepts the "no [immediate] reunification, no independence, no use of force" aspect of the cross-Strait consensus. The same is true for "peaceful development." Taipei's cross-Strait policy is based on the 1992 consensus and "one China, different interpretations." Taipei hopes Beijing will accept the Republic of China. The DPP however, still repudiates the 1992 consensus and "one China, different interpretations." It repudiates the Republic of China and the Republic of China Constitution. What is this sort of Taiwan independence thinking, if not political suicide?

A few days ago, rumors spread that in the event Ma Ying-jeou is re-elected he may visit the Chinese mainland. Democratic Progressive Party spokesman Chen Chi-ma responded. He said President Ma Ying-jeou must visit in his capacity as president, not as KMT party chairman. He said "If someone else refuses to refer to you as President, then you are not a president!"

Let's examine his logic. If someone else refuses to refer to you as president, then you are not a president. If someone else refuses to refer to you as the Republic of China, then you are not the Republic of China. If someone else refuses to recognize the Republic of China Constitution, then you must refuse to recognize the Republic of China Constitution. If some else refuses to accept "one China, different interpretations," then you must refuse to accept "one China, different interpretations." Never mind that Beijing is gradually beginning to accept all of these propositions. At least it is not denying it.

Taiwan independence advocates have long mocked and repudiated the Republic of China. But they know Taiwan independence cannot replace the Republic of China. Tsai Ing-wen is now trying to use her "Taiwan consensus" as a replacement for "one China, different interpretations" and the Republic of China Constitution. She is attempting to demean the Republic of China Constitution. She is attempting to deny the fact that the Republic of China Constitution is the "Taiwan consensus." Worse still, Tsai Ing-wen's "Taiwan consensus" is utterly devoid of content. She says voters must wait until after the election to find out what the "Taiwan consensus" is. A more unreal, more opportunistic, more underhanded attempt to promote Taiwan independence one will not find.

Tsai Ing-wen surely realizes that if she is elected president, she will hace to swear allegiance to the Constitution of the Republic of China. She will have to say "I solemnly and sincerely swear to the people of the nation, that I will abide by the constitution, and remain loyal to the nation. If I violate this oath, I am willing to accept the severest sanctions that the nation may wish to impose upon me."

This is the oath of office for the presidencyof the Republic of China. If it does not qualify as the bedrock foundation for a "Taiwan consensus," what does? Tsai Ing-wen refuses to swear allegiance to the Republic of China, and to defend the Republic of China Constitution before the election. So what is she doing? Is she waiting until after she is elected before deciding whether to swear allegiance to the nation and its constitution?

「台灣共識」意在否定中華民國
【聯合報╱社論】
2011.09.23 03:03 am

蔡英文拋出「台灣共識」，其主要意圖在否定「中華民國及中華民國憲法」是「台灣共識」；亦即意在否定中華民國，羞辱中華民國憲法。

台獨理論的核心論述是：由於否定中華民國及中華民國憲法，所以要「台獨建國」、「借殼上市」，或「正名制憲」；蔡英文這一次使用的新花樣是「台灣共識」。

台獨的傳統操作手法是，一方面羞辱中華民國，另一方面將台獨光榮化；然而，由於台獨的可行性頗受質疑，因此在大多情況下，台獨實際上只是以否定及羞辱中華民國為能事，卻無法誇耀台獨的可行性，因為不具說服力。例如，台獨經常羞辱中華民國走不出去，世界上沒有幾個國家承認中華民國，參與國際體育活動不能用國號而用「中華台北」，甚至陳雲林也不稱「馬總統」而稱「您」，又指「馬總統」是「馬區長」；誠然，這些皆是中華民國的傷疤，民進黨即動輒翻攪，在傷口撒鹽；這次又提「台灣共識」，其意亦只是在羞辱中華民國及中華民國憲法不應成為「台灣共識」罷了。但細細看去，蔡的「台灣共識」卻是一碟「空心菜」。

面對中華民國的滿身傷痛，多數國人皆知化悲憤為力量；但民進黨的一貫手法則是傷口撒鹽。民進黨的政治邏輯是：別國不承認中華民國，所以我們自己也不能承認中華民國；北京未明確承認「一中各表」，所以我們也不要承認「一中各表」的中華民國憲法。總之，別人不承認中華民國，所以我們也要自我否認；別人羞辱中華民國憲法，所以我們也要自我羞辱。

即以「九二共識」的爭議而言，所謂「一中各表」，簡白地說，就是主張：「我們是中華民國！」何況，北京今日已經走到「儘管對於一個中國的涵義雙方認知不同，但可以求同存異」（即「一中各表」）的地步；可是，民進黨非僅不催迫北京進一步落實「一中各表」，反而口口聲聲皆指「北京不承認一中各表」，好像深恐北京竟然承認了「一中各表」，更好像只要北京未明確承認「一中各表」，民進黨就有了否認「一中各表」的正當性。

以北京否定中華民國，來做為我們自我否定為中華民國的理由；這是台獨的政治邏輯。事實的演化卻是：由於「九二共識／一中各表」的影響，近年來北京對中華民國至少已近「治權互不否認」，且顯然已經接受了「不統／不獨／不武」的階段性兩岸共識，同赴「和平發展」。然而，即使當前政府的兩岸政策是以「九二共識／一中各表」，積極爭取北京接受中華民國；但民進黨卻仍然否定「九二共識／一中各表」，亦即自我否定中華民國及中華民國憲法。這種台獨思維，豈不近似政治自殺？

日前爆出馬英九可能在連任後訪問大陸的話題，民進黨發言人陳其邁稱，馬英九必須以總統身分往訪，不可用國民黨主席身分往訪，且說：「不是別人不叫你總統，你就不是總統！」

我們深然此說。不是別人不叫你總統，你就不是總統；不是別人不叫你中華民國，你就自我否定是中華民國；不是別人不承認中華民國憲法，你就自我否定中華民國憲法；不是別人不接受「一中各表」（何況北京已漸接受，至少未否認），你就也要自我否定「一中各表」。

台獨一向以羞辱、否定中華民國為能事，卻亦明知台獨不可能為中華民國的替代方案。如今，蔡英文又欲以《台灣共識法》取代「一中各表」的《中華民國憲法》，其實亦是在羞辱中華民國憲法，及否定中華民國為「台灣共識」；變本加厲的是，蔡英文的「台灣共識」又根本是一碟「空心菜」，竟說是「共識如何，選後再說」。這不啻是最虛幻、最投機、最不入流的台獨操作！

蔡英文應知，她若當選總統，必須依憲法宣誓：「余謹以至誠，向全國人民宣誓，余必遵守憲法，效忠國家，如違誓言，願受國家嚴厲之制裁。謹誓。」

這則中華民國總統就職誓詞，是不是「台灣共識」的根本基礎？蔡英文若不在選前宣示效忠中華民國，及捍衛中華民國憲法；難道連她若當選後的就職誓詞，也要「到時候再說」？